Cherry tree named ‘Glensweet I’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cherry tree,  Prunus avium , and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-unfruitful, and productive tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in mid May, with first picking on May 17, 2017. The fruit is uniformly medium to large in size, sub-acidic and sweet in flavor, heart shaped, semi-freestone in type, firm in texture, red in flesh color, very dark red in skin color, and has a medium length stem that is strongly attached to the fruit.

Botanical classification: Prunus avium.

Varietal denomination: ‘GLENSWEET I’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. We also grow a smaller number of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits, usually to capture recessive traits. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of cherry tree, which has been denominated varietally as ‘Glensweet I’.

During a typical blooming season we isolate as seed parents individual cherry trees by covering them with screen houses. A hive of bees is placed inside each such house, and bouquets to provide pollen from different cherry trees are placed in buckets near the trees approximately every two days for the duration of the bloom. During 2000 one such house containing ‘Glenred’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859) cherry tree was crossed by us in this manner. To pollinate this cherry, we selected bouquets from several sources of cherry trees without keeping specific written details. Upon reaching maturity the fruit from this cherry tree was harvested and the seeds were removed, cracked, stratified and germinated as a group with the label ‘Cherry House’. They were grown as seedlings on their own root in our greenhouse, and upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of our experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the summer of 2006 the claimed variety was selected by us as a single tree from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of cherry tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproductions were true to the original tree in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Colt’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,059) rootstock, upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent, ‘Glenred’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859) cherry, by having a vigorous tree, by blooming heavy, by being self-unfruitful, by having oval to reniform leaf glands, by being productive, and by producing medium to large cherries that are dark red in skin color, dark red in flesh color, semi-freestone in type, firm in texture, and fairly crack resistant, but is distinguished therefrom by blooming about three days later and by producing cherries that ripen about five days later, that are heart shaped instead of oblate, that are sub-acidic and sweeter in flavor, and that have a stronger stem attachment.

The present variety is most similar to ‘Glenheart’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,248) cherry, by having a medium size and vigorous tree, by blooming heavy in the early to mid season, by being self-unfruitful, by having oval to reniform leaf glands, by being productive, and by producing cherries that ripen in mid May that are medium to large in size, dark red in skin color, dark red in flesh color, firm in texture, and fairly crack resistant, but is distinguished therefrom by producing cherries that are heart shaped instead of oblate, that are semi-freestone instead of clingstone, that are much less acidic in flavor, and that have longer stems.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present cherry variety is characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-unfruitful, and productive tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in mid May, with first picking on May 17, 2017. The fruit is uniformly medium to large in size, sub-acidic and sweet in flavor, heart shaped, semi-freestone in type, firm in texture, red in flesh color, very dark red in skin color, and has a medium length stem that is strongly attached to the fruit.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph displays four whole fruits with the stems attached, two whole fruits detached from the stems to exhibit the skin color and form, a sectioned fruit to reveal the flesh, fibers, and stone, three insets depicting flowers and buds, a typical tip shoot, and several leaves, all typical of the subject variety.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of cherry tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of firm ripe on May 18, 2017, on the original tree during its seventeenth growing season. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

PARENTAGE

-   Seed parent: ‘Glenred’ cherry (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859). -   Pollen parent: Unknown.

TREE

-   Size: Medium, maintained to a height of 11′ [3.35 m.] and a spread     of 10′ [3.05 m.] after seventeen growing seasons utilizing typical     pruning. -   Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and     fertilization. The plant should be grown on a standard commercial     rootstock for production purposes. -   Growth: Spreading and dense. -   Form: Vase formed. -   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters. -   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central     California climatic conditions, which typically include extended     periods of heat. -   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and     requires regular irrigation. -   Production: Productive. -   Fertility: Self-unfruitful, must be cross pollinated by another     early to mid seasonal blooming cherry variety, such as ‘Glenred’     (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859). The present variety is also a very     good cross- pollinator for ‘Glenred’. -   Bearing: Fairly regular bearer, dependent upon seasonal blooming     weather. -   Leaf bud burst: Toward the end of flowering. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—Stocky, reaching a maximum diameter of 5½″ [140 mm.]             after the seventeenth growing season.         -   Texture.—Medium shaggy.         -   Bark color.—A Grayish yellowish brown [80. gy.yBr] and             Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr] variegation with Light             yellowish brown [76. l.yBr] crevices present.         -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 8. Color:             Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr]. Average Size: Length is             7/16″ [11.1 mm.] with a width of ⅛″ [3.2 mm.]. Shape:             Eye-shaped, elongated. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Medium, diameter of main scaffold measured 12″ above             the crotch is 3¾″ [95.3 mm.], diameter of limb is 2″ [50.8             mm.] measured 12″ above the first fork.         -   Texture.—Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing             roughness with age.         -   Color.—1st Year Wood topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st             Year Wood underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].             2nd Year Wood: A Dark grayish brown [62. d.gy.Br] and             Grayish brown [61. gy.Br] variegation with Light brown [57.             l.Br] crevices present.         -   Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: About 40 on second year             wood. Color: Strong brown [55. s.Br]. Average Size: Length             is 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] and width is 1/64″ [0.4 mm.]. Shape:             Eye-shaped. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Medium to large. Average Length: 5¾″ [146 mm.].             Average Width: 2 7/16″ [61.9 mm.].         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Form.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Acute to rounded.         -   Surface.—Smooth on both sides.         -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG].             Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].         -   Red midvein.—Absent.         -   Margin.—Finely serrate.         -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.         -   Vein color.—Light yellow green [119. l.YG].         -   Petiole.—Average Length: 1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.]. Average             Thickness: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Grayish purplish pink             [253. yy.pPk] on the topside, Strong yellow green [117.             s.YG] underneath.         -   Stipules.—Number: 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing tip.             Average Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow green             [116. brill.YG] turning Dark purplish red [259. d.pR] with             age.         -   Glands.—Number: Usually 2 per leaf. Position: Mostly             alternate. Size: Medium, 1/32″ [0.8 mm.] in diameter. Form:             Reniform to oval. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116.             brill.YG] with a Deep red [13. deep R] center.         -   Leaf buds.—Pointed. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California blooming             season.         -   Diameter.—Typically 5/16″ [7.9 mm.] 3 days before bloom.         -   Length.—Typically ⅝″ [15.9 mm.] 3 days before bloom.         -   Form.—Not appressed.         -   Surface.—Non-pubescent.         -   Tip color.—Pale Pink [7. p.Pk]. -   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,     typically about twenty stamens, five sepals and petal locations     alternately positioned.     -   -   Average flower diameter.—1¾″ [44.5 mm.].         -   Average flower depth.—½″ [12.7 mm.] when fully open.         -   Average pedicel length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].         -   Number of petals.—Usually five, no extra petals or fragments             observed.         -   Petal arrangement.—Overlapping.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate.         -   Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy with a few notches present.         -   Average petal diameter.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].         -   Average petal length.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].         -   Petal apex.—Emarginated.         -   Petal base.—Acute.         -   Petal color.—White [263. White] on both sides.         -   Anther color.—Light orange yellow [70. l.OY].         -   Stigma color.—Brilliant greenish yellow [98. brill.gY].         -   Stigma position.—Typically located about ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] above             the nearby anthers.         -   Stamen position.—Typically located about 1/32″ [0.8 mm.]             below the petals.         -   Ovary.—Non-pubescent.         -   Sepal color.—Light grayish red [18. l.gy.R] over Moderate             greenish yellow [102. m.gY] on the outer surface. The inner             surface is Pale yellow green [121. p.YG].         -   Sepal outer surface.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Sepal length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].         -   Sepal width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].         -   Sepal apex.—Elliptical to match the sepal length and width.         -   Sepal margin.—Fairly smooth.         -   Average pistil length.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].         -   Average stamen length.— 9/16″ [14.3 mm.].         -   Fragrance.—Moderate.         -   Pollen production.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—Strong yellow [84. s.Y].         -   Bloom density.—Heavy.         -   Blooming period.—Early to medium, blooms three days later             than ‘Glenred’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,859) cherry.         -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Mar. 12, 2017.         -   Date of full bloom.—Mar. 21, 2017.         -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient             temperature.         -   Number per cluster.—Usually 2 to 6, 3 average.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Firm ripe, May 18, 2017. -   Date of first picking: May 17, 2017. -   Date of last picking: May 25, 2017. -   Size: Uniform, medium to large.     -   -   Average diameter axially.—1 3/16″ [30.2 mm.].         -   Average diameter across cheek plane.—1 3/16″ [30.2 mm.].         -   Average diameter across suture plane.—1″ [25.4 mm.].         -   Typical weight.—0.42 ounces [12 grams]. -   Form: Uniform, symmetrical, somewhat heart shaped.     -   -   Axial view form.—Elliptical to oblate.         -   Suture plane form.—Oval.         -   Cheek plane form.—Heart shaped. -   Suture: A shallow trough extending from the stem cavity, along the     side, and ending with a slight depression just beyond the pistil     point. -   Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped on both sides. -   Lips: Mostly equal. -   Cavity: Flaring, rounded, suture showing on one side.     -   -   Depth.—⅛″ [3.2 mm.].         -   Breadth.— 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. -   Base: Truncate, cordate if viewed parallel to the suture. -   Apex: Rounded. -   Pistil point: A Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y] dot. -   Stem: Medium length.     -   -   Average length.—1 7/16″ [36.5 mm.].         -   Average width.— 1/16″ [1.6 mm.].         -   Attachment.—Strong. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to the flesh.         -   Astringency.—Slight.         -   Tendency to crack.—Rarely observed in dry seasons, fairly             resistant to cracking in wet season.         -   Color.—Very deep red [14. v.deep R] smoothly blending to a             Deep red [13. deep R] background. -   Flesh:     -   -   Color.—Dark red [13. d.R] with Very dark red [17. v.d.R]             bleeding next to the stone with Purplish pink [7. p.Pk]             fibers throughout.         -   Surface of pit cavity.—Covered with Very dark red [17.             v.d.R] fibers.         -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.         -   Juice.—Abundant, rich.         -   Juice color.—Deep red [13. deep R].         -   Texture.—Firm, crisp.         -   Fibers.—Abundant, fine, tender.         -   Ripens.—Fairly evenly.         -   Flavor.—Sub-acidic and sweet, typically 21 to 22 brix.         -   Aroma.—Wanting.         -   Eating quality.—Very good.

STONE

-   Type: Semi-freestone. -   Form: Oval. -   Hilum: Narrow, oblong. -   Base: Rounded. -   Apex: Acute. -   Sides: Fairly equal. -   Surface: Fairly smooth. -   External color of stone: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. -   Pit wall color when cracked: Pale yellow [89. p.Y]. -   Cavity surface color: Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y]. -   Average pit wall thickness: 1/32″ [0.8 mm.]. -   Average width: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. -   Average length: 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. -   Average breadth: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. -   Tendency to split: None observed. -   Kernel:     -   -   Form.—Oval.         -   Skin color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y] when first removed.         -   Pellicle color.—Moderate olive brown [95. m.OlBr].         -   Vein color.—Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y].         -   Taste.—Bitter.         -   Viable.—Yes.         -   Average width.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].         -   Average length.— 5/16″ [7.9 mm.].         -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.

USE

-   Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping. -   Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good     condition after 21 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°     Celsius]. -   Shipping quality: Good. -   Resistance to insects: Not tested. -   Resistance to diseases: Not tested.

OTHER NOTES

Although the new variety of cherry tree possesses the described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varying cultural practices. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘Glenheart’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,248) cherry, by having a medium size and vigorous tree, by blooming heavy in the early to mid season, by being self-unfruitful, by having oval to reniform leaf glands, by being productive, and by producing cherries that ripen in mid May that are medium to large in size, dark red in skin color, dark red in flesh color, firm in texture, and fairly crack resistant, but is distinguished therefrom by producing cherries that are heart shaped instead of oblate, that are semi-freestone instead of clingstone, that are much less acidic in flavor, and that have longer stems. 